Born and raised in Minneapolis, Prince signed a record deal with Warner Bros. Records at the age of 19, soon releasing the albums For You (1978) and Prince (1979). He went on to achieve critical success with the influential albums Dirty Mind (1980), Controversy (1981), and 1999 (1982). His sixth album, Purple Rain (1984), was recorded with his new backing band the Revolution, and was also the soundtrack to the film of the same name in which he starred. Purple Rain garnered continued success for Prince and was a major commercial achievement, spending six consecutive months atop the Billboard 200 chart. The soundtrack also won Prince the Academy Award for Best Original Song Score. After disbanding the Revolution, Prince released the album Sign o' the Times (1987), widely hailed by critics as the greatest work of his career. In the midst of a contractual dispute with Warner Bros. in 1993, he changed his stage name to the unpronounceable symbol logo. Hollow circle above downward arrow crossed with a curlicued horn-shaped symbol and then a short bar (known to fans as the "Love Symbol") and was often referred to as The Artist Formerly Known as Prince (or TAFKAP) or simply The Artist.
After signing with Arista Records in 1998, Prince reverted to his original name in 2000. Over the next decade, six of his albums entered the U.S. top 10 charts. In April 2016, at the age of 57, Prince died after accidentally overdosing on fentanyl at his Paisley Park home and recording studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota. He was a prolific musician who released 39 albums during his life, with a vast array of unreleased material left in a custom-built bank vault underneath his home after his death, including fully completed albums and over 50 finished music videos. He also released songs under multiple pseudonyms during his life, as well as writing songs that were made popular after being covered by other musicians, most notably "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sinéad O'Connor and "Manic Monday" by the Bangles. Estimates of the complete number of songs written by Prince range anywhere from 500 to well over 1,000. Released posthumously, his demo albums Piano and a Microphone 1983 (2018) and Originals (2019) both received critical acclaim.
Prince sold over 100 million records worldwide, ranking him among the best-selling music artists of all time. His awards included the Grammy President's Merit Award, the American Music Awards for Achievement and of Merit, the Billboard Icon Award, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006, and the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2016, and was inducted twice into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame in 2022.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_(musician)
Studio albums
For You (1978)
Prince (1979)
Dirty Mind (1980)
Controversy (1981)
1999 (1982)
Purple Rain (1984)
Around the World in a Day (1985)
Parade (1986)
Sign o' the Times (1987)
Lovesexy (1988)
Batman (1989)
Graffiti Bridge (1990)
Diamonds and Pearls (1991)
Love Symbol (1992)
Come (1994)
The Black Album (1994)
The Gold Experience (1995)
Chaos and Disorder (1996)
Emancipation (1996)
Crystal Ball (1998)
The Truth (1998)
The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale (1999)
Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic (1999)
The Rainbow Children (2001)
One Nite Alone... (2002)
Xpectation (2003)
N·E·W·S (2003)
The Chocolate Invasion (2004)
The Slaughterhouse (2004)
Musicology (2004)
3121 (2006)
Planet Earth (2007)
Lotusflow3r (2009)
MPLSound (2009)
20Ten (2010)
Plectrumelectrum (2014)
Art Official Age (2014)
HITnRUN Phase One (2015)
HITnRUN Phase Two (2015)
Posthumous releases:
Piano and a Microphone 1983 (2018)
Originals (2019)
Welcome 2 America (2021)
Prince also released two albums credited to Madhouse, three albums credited to the New Power Generation, and one credited to the N.P.G. Orchestra:
Madhouse:
8 (1987)
16 (1987)
The New Power Generation:
Goldnigga (1993)
Exodus (1995)
Newpower Soul (1998)
The N.P.G. Orchestra:
Kamasutra (1997)
For Serbian singer Princ, please use Princ.
Count the Days
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Here's a church, here's a steeple
Here's a muthafucka that I gotta blow away
Here's my chance 2 cure the ills of the people
But not until I make this muthafucka pay
And oh, baby I count the days
I count the days
Here's the interview, here's the time
If I keep your secrets, will you keep mine?
If we hurry, we can catch the train
If it was left up 2 you, I would die in pain
(That's why) I count the days
(Oh yeah)
Whoa, I'm counting (Oh)
Hear me (Hear me)
(Days) (Days) Days
Counting the days
Great day in the morning
My choir sing a pretty song
Every day I'm with your ass is another day wasted
I swear is a day 2 long
Counting
Like Frankie Beverly without Maze
I'm counting
Muthafucka, I count the days
Can I count on? (Hey)
Count on? (Counting)
Count on? (Hey yeah)
I count the days (Days)
Count the days {repeat til fade}
The lyrics to Prince and the New Power Generation's song "Count The Days" seem to be about someone who wants to seek revenge against someone else. The lyrics mention a church and a steeple, which could be interpreted as the singer viewing themselves as a righteous person or someone who is driven by a moral code. However, they then mention that they "gotta blow away" someone, indicating that they are planning on violent revenge. The lyrics then suggest that the singer wants to help people but cannot do so until they take care of their personal vendetta.
The second verse seems to be about a possible blackmail situation. The singer offers to keep someone's secrets if they keep their own. They mention catching a train and refer to the other person causing them pain. This could suggest a romantic relationship where the singer is trying to keep the other person close to them despite underlying motives.
Overall, the lyrics tell a story of someone who is torn between moral righteousness and personal revenge. They want to do good in the world but feel the need to take care of their own business first. The lyrics are powerful and evocative, speaking to the universal human struggle between doing what is right and seeking personal satisfaction.
Line by Line Meaning
Here's a church, here's a steeple
Starting off with the image of a church and steeple, the singer sets up a contrast with the violence that follows.
Here's a muthafucka that I gotta blow away
The singer has a target in mind and is ready to use violence.
Here's my chance 2 cure the ills of the people
The singer sees himself as a savior who can help others--but only after taking care of his own business first.
But not until I make this muthafucka pay
The artist's priorities are clear: they must take revenge before attending to anything else.
And oh, baby I count the days
The artist is anxiously waiting for the day when they can take revenge.
Here's the interview, here's the time
Switching gears, the singer moves on to a different situation, but in a similarly sinister tone.
If I keep your secrets, will you keep mine?
The singer is negotiating a delicate exchange of information.
If we hurry, we can catch the train
The artist sets a deadline, suggesting that something important must be done soon.
If it was left up 2 you, I would die in pain
The artist distrusts the other person and believes that they would be in danger if they didn't take matters into their own hands.
(That's why) I count the days
The artist is once again looking forward to a future event.
Great day in the morning
The singer exclaims in a moment of excitement or urgency.
My choir sing a pretty song
The artist imagines a positive moment, but it's overshadowed by their overall negative attitude.
Every day I'm with your ass is another day wasted
The singer hates spending time with the other person and sees it as a waste of their life.
I swear is a day 2 long
The singer emphasizes how unbearable their situation is.
Like Frankie Beverly without Maze
The singer makes a cultural reference to suggest that something is incomplete or missing--in this case, the happiness they desire.
Muthafucka, I count the days
The artist emphasizes their intense dread or anticipation for the future.
Can I count on? (Hey)
The artist switches gears again, but this time sounds uncertain and seeks reassurance from someone else.
Count on? (Counting)
The singer repeats their question, emphasizing their anxiety.
Count on? (Hey yeah)
Once more, the singer seeks a response that will give them a sense of security or certainty.
I count the days (Days)
Returning to the song's central theme, the artist repeats their mantra about waiting for the future with anxiety or anticipation.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LLOYD SONNY THOMPSON, MICHAEL A. BLAND, MORRIS K. HAYES, PRINCE ROGERS NELSON, TOMMY ELM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Don Funk
Here's a church, here's a steeple
Here's a muthafucka that I gotta blow away
Here's my chance to cure the ills of the people
But not until I make this muthafucka pay
And oh, baby, I count the daysYeah, yes, I count the days
Here's th interview, here's the time
If I keep your secrets, will you keep mine?
If we hurry, we can catch the train
If it was left up to you, I would die in pain
(That's why)
I count the days Oh, yeah
Whoa, I'm counting
(Oh)
Hear me
(Hear me)
(Days, days)
Days, counting the daysGreat day in the morning
My choir sing a pretty song
Every day I'm with your ass is another day wasted
I swear is a day to longCounting
Like Frankie Beverly without Maze
I'm counting
Muthafucka, I count the daysCan I count on?
(Hey)
Count on
(Counting)
Count on
(Hey, yeah)
I count the days
(Days)Count the days, count the days
Count the days, count the days
On The One
Prince’s voice is just so beautiful. That falsetto is beautiful and effortless, especially at the very end of 1:52 and carried through to 1:53. I’m feeling the guitar at 2:20 just like he is. Man I miss my friend. 😢💜💜
Edem Djokotoe
This was one hell of a jam but this version is sublime. NPG was out of this world. The bass player's voice was made for songs like these
NycBeauty
ONE OF FAVORITE SONGS.
Prince was sexy, sensual , charming , funny, talented , stylish, creative, artistic , otherworldly , bad-ass, out spoken , maverick, uninhibited, ethereal , spiritual, an enigma, humanitarian , unique and a SOUL BROTHER. He will always be in my heart💜. No one will ever compare
to you PRINCE💜
3121
ooooooweeeeee!!!!! yesssssss! yes he was!! talk! that talk! R.I.P. my darling Prince Rogers Nelson😞💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
Zachariah-Bin Yisrayl
He could hide his face...but he could NEVER hide his talent. Just....LAWDHAMERCY. 💎
I D K
Exodus is an extraordinary, amusing, and excellent album. One of my favorites now 💜
HerbofFour
Exodus is Prince's most underrated album ever and one of THE funkiest records I've ever heard. I stripped out the segues and swapped "Cherry Cherry" for "Days of Wild" and can play that thing all the way through.
Christopher Tracy
The Rainbow Children (or Emancipation) is Prince's most underrated album - but Exodus is up there
Robert Becker Becker
@Christopher Tracy nah Emancipation is too bloated and lyrically thin. Not enough ideas on that album to hold it together. A couple great songs amongst many abysmal and forgettable tracks
HerbofFour
@Robert Becker Becker Agree. But also think it's kinda cool that EVERYONE has their own "ONE DISC" version of the three disc set and every single one is different. I wouldn't call it LYRICALLY thin since disc 2 in particular has some of the most heart felt lyrics Prince has ever written but would concur that the album itself is a bit thin along with some astonishingly mediocre production. A mile wide and an inch deep to an extent.
But there's some GREAT stuff on there and I was elated to get SO MUCH music all at once like that. It was like a buffet that allowed me to pick and choose what I liked to eat. I always preferred MORE music, even if I didn't care for all of it.